Chapter 6
Akira Baraz
Catering to my best friend was a given. That bitch did everything I asked with no hesitation so throwing her a surprise birthday party was well deserved. Thirty-five years old and spoiled fuckin’ rotten. Most of it was from her family, but I had a hand in it as well.
She fucked around and got married which caused a lot of problems and stress for her.
However, today, I wanted my sister to have some fun and let that shit fly.
Finding her husband, dealing with Royce’s crazy ass, and then her father down her neck ‘bout the shit too, she legit needed this break. I wouldn’t be her best bitch if I didn’t get her out the house and her head.
“What am I doing here, Kira? I told you I ain’t want to do all this today,” she complained. I’d made her get up and come to the boutique with me. She was getting pampered all day.
“Is it not a real nigga birthday? Oh, aight. You just keep looking good baby, and I got you. Now, come on and relax yourself. Once we done here, I’m taking you shopping, then we gon’ blow dank and hit a club or something later tonight. You not declining shit so suck it up.”
Releasing a deep breath, she shook her head before letting it fall back to the headrest. I knew she’d been back and forth with all the drama, but she was such a boss ass bitch outside of that.
This girl knew how to hang with the toughest and outsell a nigga on his own corner with no hesitation. She deserved every bit of this.
“I just want this shit to be over with friend,” she said keeping her eyes closed.
“I know, and it will be soon. However, today, you don’t need to worry yo’ pretty lil’ head ‘bout shit. I got you. Now, get out,” I said reaching across her and popping the passenger door handle.
She did like I asked with no lip. We entered Champagne Glow moments later with us being greeted by two young hoes that looked as if they’d make bank at the club.
My focus immediately roamed their bodies assessing their assets.
I was more than pleased and appreciative that it was of melanin.
My focus tended to linger on the darkskin one. Her beauty was natural and inviting.
“Welcome to Champagne Glow. My name is Hershey, and this is Olivia. You two must be Mercedees and Akira,” she spoke with a smile stretched from ear to ear.
I handed over fifty grand to the owner booking the entire day for my girl a week in advance.
We were the only two occupying the building so Mercedees could let her hair down and just relax for a bit.
Besides her marriage stressing her out, this was also around the time Mama Rose passed.
My girl just needed a break from life altogether.
“We are. This is the birthday girl, Mercedees. Take care of her every time before you do me, aight?” Hershey nodded, and I continued with, “Cool. She’s allergic to cucumber. Did you get the memo on that?”
“We did and have removed all products containing it off the shelves. She’ll be well taken care of. If you two want to come with us, we can get you settled,” she suggested. Cedees and I both agreed as we were ushered to a back room.
As soon as we stepped in, Olivia took over while Hershey walked over to the bar to fix us a drink. I admired her backside and approved of the way it jiggled as she strutted. I was nudged by Cedees within seconds. She knew what I was looking at.
“Okay ladies. Can I get you to undress and place on your robes? Is there any areas you want us to give a little more TLC to?” she questioned handing over the blush pink robes.
“No, I’m cool with whatever you throw my way,” Cedees answered not sounding thrilled to be here at all.
“Bestie please cooperate and answer the woman. She’s here to make your special day even better. I mean, I could do it myself, but I might cross a bridge you ain’t ready for.”
With her finger pointed in my direction and tight lips, she spoke to me like I was a dog in heat. “I done told yo’ gay ass ‘bout that shit. Stop trying to hunch on me bitch.”
I threw my hands up in surrender followed by a sly grin saying, “I’m gon’ put my bid in every time. But for real, let her do her job.”
She rolled her eyes as a small smile seeped through. If I ain’t do nothing else, I kept a smile on her face. Regardless of what we went through, she knew she could count on me. Her happiness meant a lot to me.
For the next few hours, Cedees and I were handled with care by the ladies.
We went through the entire process of getting pampered and my girl mood eventually changed.
By the time we left the spa, she was ready to enjoy the rest of her princess treatment for the day.
She spent a bag at the mall getting any and everything she laid eyes on.
I swiped my card with no regrets. It was her world.
She could get whatever she wanted from me.
Nightfall finally found us, and we were ready to gain the Springs attention.
Wearing a black, backless, cut out sleeveless dress, with a pair of YSL heels to match, Cedees definitely looked good enough to eat off the bone.
I could only imagine how bad she was ‘bout to cut up.
The only thing shawty needed to bring with her tonight was some lip gloss and her phone. I had her.
I happened to have on a lace body con dress that hugged a bitch like a second skin. I was following Cedees vibes tonight. However hard she wanted to go, I was matching energy.
“Okay, what you think? Body tea?” she asked giving herself a once over in the mirror.
“Always. You glowing today baby girl so know you the shit,” I complimented.
“Where we going tonight?”
“Ethereal. I got some bomb shit lined up for you. I just needed to be able to work the room without another muthafucka telling me what I can and can’t do in they shit. It’s easier for me there,” I assured her.
“Aye, I ain’t saying shit. A bitch ain’t had to spend a dime today, so I have no pushback. I’m just going with the flow. Oh, did you invite my cousins?”
“Nope. I invited their wives. This is a girl’s night out, and we don’t need Royce trying to tell us what the fuck to do either. Serenity is coming too. You still cool with her, right?” I questioned.
“Hell yeah. That’s my bitch. Well, if we doing it like that, we might as well do it right. Where the liquor? I can pre-game right about now.”
Walking over to my bar, I grabbed up a bottle of Don and popped the cork. I put it to my lips and gulped a double shot like it was nothing. Handing it over to Cedees, she followed suit and did the same. Thing One and Thing Two at its finest.
“Aight. I got dank, cones, and bowls. What you trying to puff on shawty?” I was now standing in front of my stash of quality za. All she had to do was decide and I was gon’ get her right as usual.
Coming over to view her options, she reached for the cone with a smile. “Oh, it’s ‘bout to be a good time. Double the shot and then we can head out.”
Grabbing the bottle back, I was swallowing another heavy shot before leaving the crib officially.
Cedees sat as a passenger princess while I pulled out the driveway.
I made sure to blast her favorite artist Phoenix as we cruised through the city.
She could go bar for bar with that man not missing a word. She was a thug for real.
My best friend started her day out stressed and unenthused about her birthday.
However, I changed all of that for her. I’d be damned if I watched my ace boon coon be gloomy over some shit she did while she was lit as fuck.
Bitches get married in Vegas everyday B.
I wasn’t ‘bout to let that shit consume her.
By the time we pulled up to my club, the parking lot was packed the fuck out. I was genuinely confused simply because I could’ve sworn I shut my shit down for Cedees. I whipped my ride around to the valet and hopped out immediately. My shit was barely in park good.
“Aye, what the hell is going on Larry?” I asked walking up on one of my bouncers.
“Damn, you fine as fuck boss lady. I mean, you always fine but tonight…”
Waving him off, I said, “Yeah, yeah nigga. I know. Why the hell is all these people here? Who the hell opened up my shit?”
“Karanna. She said something ‘bout it being rented out for some nigga birthday. He in there and all these muthafuckas showed up for him,” he answered.
“Where the hell is Karanna?”
“She in there, too.” Realizing I wasn’t in the best mood, his smile dropped. “She fucked up, huh?”
“You goddamn right she did.” Karanna was my fairly new assistant I hired to help around the club.
Lately, I’d been overly busy with the nail salon and needed a breather.
Splitting myself in two was no longer working.
Walking back to the car, I opened Cedees door saying, “Come on bestie. Karanna’s dumbass done rented the club out to somebody else for their birthday and ain’t told me shit. I’m ‘bout to go in and clear it out.”
“Nah, it’s cool best friend. I’m lit as fuck right now and want to see who my birthday twin is. We can party together. I promise I ain’t trippin’.” She was showing grace as she stepped out, but I was pissed the fuck off.
Nodding, I intertwined our hands and escorted her inside. I wasn’t gon’ hold you, whomever it was had the club jumping. My ladies were on the floor and throwing ass. They weren’t supposed to be doing that for no one but my crew. I was very displeased by this.
We made our way up to the second floor where the biggest section was located. It seemed like the birthday boy was there and live. I was too eager to see who it was. There weren’t many people in the Springs that could book and bring the city out. A bitch curiosity was sparked no doubt.
Bitches and niggas were pushed to the side as we made our way through the crowd. It seemed the deeper we went the thicker it got. My blood was boiling at this point.
Finally making it to the front of everything, my eyes landed on the same nigga that thought throwing money my way would give him access to my accessories.
With my tongue pushing on my jaw, I tried my hardest not to wreak havoc.
I guess my curiosity was in the killing business ‘cause I was done for the day.
“Ain’t this ‘bout a bitch. God why are you torturing me this week?” I voiced aloud.
He stood wearing that same goofy ass smile the second his focus fell on me. All I wanted to do was turn around and get the fuck out of here, but Cedees was in the mood to party. Leaving wasn’t an option.
“Who is that and why is he looking at you like he tasted what’s between yo’ legs already?” Cedees asked in a hushed tone.
“He’s a fuckin’ parasite that won’t leave me alone. No worries though. He getting the fuck up out my shit for real tonight,” I snapped.
We stood there waiting for him to approach us when I noticed his steps slowed down gradually.
That grin he once wore was replaced with a confusing expression.
His gaze never wavered from Mercedees. She was too high to realize it.
Once he was smack dead in front of us, his expression softened.
A hearty laugh was released as he threw his arms around my best friend.
“Look what the cat drug in. Damn Clover, I been looking all over for yo’ lucky charm head ass. Aye, Scar, I found yo’ wife,” he shouted turning Cedees to the right of him. He was pointing and grinning while me and my best friend was at a standstill.
My eyes grew big as saucers as everything clicked. Being around the Atkins as much as I was, I knew just about everybody that lived in the Springs. However, Ashaun was an unfamiliar face and this lil’ unfortunate run in stamped it.
Pulling Cedees back to me, I tried to get her high ass to come back down to earth and realize what the hell was going on. Palming the side of her face, I said, “Bestie, sober the fuck up now!”
“I think I’m high off my ass right now best friend. Did this nigga just say I was the wife to a nigga in here?” she questioned with squinted eyes.
A hand snaked around Mercedes waist from the back before I could give her an answer.
A fione ass nigga appeared in the light causing me to put a quick pause in my actions.
He bent down to speak to her in her ear but all I could focus on was how goddamn good he looked.
He favored Ashaun a lot more the longer I took him in.
Are these niggas related?
“You stole my last name and got ghost. Don’t think you gon’ succeed twice.”
Oh shit.